Hot top



E. J. TURNER Filed Jan. 25, 19,26

1 l l l l l I l l x l I Il July 20 1926.

INVENTOR Patented July 20), w26.

ERNEST J. TURNER, 0E PITT'URGE, PENNSYLVANIA..

EOT TGP.

Application led January 26. 1926. serial Ito. 88,841

The present invention relates broadly to ingot making, and moreparticularly to an improved form of hot top adapted for bodily additionto an ingot mold in known manner to improve the character of the ingotwhich is produced in the mold.

It is known at the present time to make hot tops in whole or in part ofrefractory material, or of slag, cinders, cement or the like. It is alsoknown to make hot tops of a wide variety of shapes, being governed bythe contour of the mold with which the hot top is to be used.

My invention relates to an improvement in hot tops irrespective of theircontour or composition, and may be embodied in any of the above or othertypes of hot tops. One of the objects of this invention is to decreasethe weight of the hot top whereby the handling thereof is facilitated,and to improve its heat insulating properties. These 1mproved resultsare conveniently obtained by forming the hot top of generally cellularnature with a, plurality of suitably arranged, and preferably closed airlspaces connected by relatively narrow webs. A

In the accompanying drawings there is shown more or less diagammaticallyfor purposes of illustration only one form of hot top embodying thepresent invention, it being understood that the drawings do not definethe limits of my invention as changes in the construction, contour,arrangement and location of supporting means and the like may be made atwill without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofmy broader claims. v

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a hot top embodying the presentinvention; and

Figure ,2 is a side elevation of the construction illustrated in Figure1.

' In carrying out the present invention any desired composition may bedetermined upon and thereafter formed into suitable shape by molding,extrusion or the like, as customary for example, in the manufacture ofhollow tiles to t ereby provide a body portion 2 of any desired contourwith suitable supporting means Such as ribs, lugs or the like. The Wallsof the body portion are preferably compound, comprising an inner shell4- and an outer shell 5 connected by relatively narrow ribs or webs 6provlding a minimum area of solid wall space the shape usuallythroughout the main body of the tile consistent withthe desiredstrength. Intermediate these ribs or webs are cells or air spaces 7,.The hot top formed as herein recited, may be completed in any desiredmanner as by mudding over the ends of the cells or air spaces to therebyprovide closed air pockets minimizing heat transfer and radiation fromthe interior of the hot top outwardly.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that not only does aconstruction of the character herein indicated function to maintain thelmetal adjacent the upper end of the ingot in molten condition for alonger period than has been possible with hot tops as heretoforeconstructed where provision for actual combustion or slow burnin has notbeen provided, but that it materia y decreases the weight of the hottops, thereby facilitating handling.

In practice it has been found that due to the better insulatingproperties of a hot top of cellular construction, the tendency to spallor ycrack is reduced to a minimum.

The present hot top lends itself to coating or impregnation in knownmanner with suitable waterproong compounds where desired, and also tocoating with any desired material, fusible or otherwise, adapted tofacilitate subsequent relative movement between the shrinkage ingot andthe hot top.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of agenerally cellular hot top of any desired contour and composition whichmay, if desired, be left in its natural state or coated or impregnatedin known manner with any desired materials as now contemplated in theart.

I claim: p

1. A s an article of manufacture, a hot top formed of refractorymaterial having a plurality of air spaces formed in the walls thereof.

2. As an article of manufacture, a hot top formed of refractory materialhaving compound walls connected by webs providing air spacestherebetween.

3. As an article of manufacture, a hot top for ingot molds formed ofrefractory material having at least a portion of its Walls formed with aclosed-in air pocket.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y ERNEST J. TURNER.

, after being partially

